Book Reviews From Blogging Authors

My writing PLN (professional Learning Network) pretty much revolves around blogs and the authors who share their insights and advice through the online blogs. When I have a question, I often go there first, before digging through my shelves of self-help writing books. Along the way, I’ve read many of their books. Here, I want to share those that I’ve particularly enjoyed and think you might too:

The Bug Buys is a humorous view of what happens when two boys unexpectedly get the super powers of insects.

The Gift of Guylaine Claire delves into how a family recovers when a critical person dies.

Frankly Speaking relays the story of a detective-turned-PI, hiding from his past, who becomes caught up in a murder mystery

This story follows two entirely normal South Yorkshire lads who eat the wrong food at the wrong time and end up absorbing super powers that give them the power of insects. While predictably, they first use these amazing powers to fight the school bullies, they quickly realize there are bigger and better goals that will energize what had been fairly ordinary lives.

Hoffman’s The Bug Boysis nothing like the iconic Franz Kafka Metamorphosis about a man who turns into an ant. In fact, Stewart tells this science fiction tale with what I know to be his trademark dry British humor and a clever approach to these oddest of all events. A fun read.

Amelia is one of my favorite bloggers because of her down-to-earth approach to life. Whether she’s building her house from scratch or raising bees, she’s always doing what I’d love to do if I had the courage. Her book is no different. In this story, set in a traditional French Canadian farming community, family of the slain Guylaine Claire gather together to mourn her death as they try to move on. Surprisingly (or not), they all come away with a better understanding and acceptance of themselves.

Frank Rozzani, detective-turned PI, is hired to help desperate parents find their missing daughter. Florida police declare her a runaway, but a little bit of digging tells Rozzani there’s more to her disappearance than an angry girl escaping. He and his cybersleuth partner set out to find her before it’s too late.

I enjoyed this detective mystery so much I am reading the entire series. The story is fast-moving with all the twists and turns I like in this genre. The two main characters are likable and well-developed with plenty of mystery to move them into a sequel. The story is positive and upbeat with a constant baseline of jazz music to underscore the plot.

Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy, and To Hunt a Sub, her debut fiction. She is the author/editor of over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for TeachHUB, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. You can find her nonfiction books at her publisher’s website, Structured Learning.

Hi Jacqui I’m back trying to see if I can comment here! – ( copied and pasted that message knowing it wouldn’t work) If you do see this it’s because I had to sign in with Google or FB to comment😦 PLease see if I’m in your spam🙂

Jacqui,
What a wonderful surprise! I’ve been busy this summer, raising bees and building–and flat on my back this past week with a terrible cold. So my return to the blogosphere today held a very generous and sweet surprise–your review of my book! Thank you! You are a gem.

And though I usually hide behind my initials, it’s time I came clean with my first name…it’s Alta. (Hell, we’ve been following each other’s blogs for years–I cannot believe I haven’t done so earlier.) Thanks again for the generosity of your time and attention.

Whilst I studied and liked Kafka, The Bug Boys sounds much more fun and you can’t beat the dry Yorkshire humour! Great reviews all round and thank you for sharing. Wishing you a lovely weekend, Jacqui.

About Me

Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy, and the thriller, To Hunt a Sub. She is also the author/editor of over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for TeachHUB, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. You can find her books at her publisher’s website, Structured Learning.